Jin Li, a Chinese geneticist teaching at the US-based Cincinnati University, was named president of the Life Sciences Academy of the Fudan University in Shanghai on Wednesday.

Jin Li, in his forties, has won many academic awards at home and abroad, enjoying high prestige in life sciences research. He gained fame by proposing the theory that modern Chinese man evolved from African ancestors.

After graduating from the genetics department of Fudan University in 1987, Jin went to study in the United States and earned a Ph.D. degree in genetics in 1994. Currently, he is professor of the gene sequencing information center of the environment and health department at Cincinnati University.

Under the three-year contract, Fudan University will provide Jin with an agreed salary and necessary teaching environment, while Jin will build a teaching, appraisal and management mechanism for life sciences, set up a framework for new development trends, form a high-grade teaching contingent and expand international cooperation.

At a ceremony held Wednesday at Fudan University, Jin expressed confidence in fulfilling his task.

Fudan University advertised the vacancy openly at home and abroad last October and received 40 applications.

(People's Daily June 12, 2003)